Decision imminent on Pleasure Island project - and it's looking good for revamp consortium

                                    

The buildings at Pleasure Island (and most of the trees) will be removed to make way for the proposed  redevelopment

A DECISION is imminent on the longstanding proposal to redevelop Pleasure Island.

The Grimsby News understands that North East Lincolnshire Council is poised to give the go-ahead for the controversial project.

It is possible that senior planner Cheryl Jarvis may rubber-stamp the scheme under delegated powers without the faff of consideration by councillors.

the application will go before the authority's planning committee - with a recommendation for approval - on July 8.

But it seems more likely that the application will go before the authority's planning committee - with a recommendation for approval - next Wednesday, July 8.

It was back in 2020 that property tycoon Sze Ming Yeung announced his intention to transform the former theme park to what he reckoned could be Lincolnshire's equivalent to Center Parcs.

Since then, a lot of water has flown under the bridge - the plans have been  radically modified, much of Mr Yeungs' property development aspirations have drowned in an ocean of debt . . . and the on-site Japanese knotweed has continued to run riot.

Starved of investment for a revamp, Pleasure Island could have faced decades of dereliction - that is until a deep-pocketed fairy godmother came forward in the unlikely form of discount supermarket chain Lidl which is main player in  a consortium.

The retailer has been working with James Cox in the Leeds office of the agents, Lichfields, to come up with a scheme that they believe will not just be commercially viable but also acceptable to the NELC planning hierarchy.

Although there has been extensive community support for the redevelopment, there have also been many objections.

Some have been lodged by residents but others came from  heavyweight organisations such as the Environment Agency, concerned about flood risk, and Natural England which has expressed alarm about the potential  impact of a huge influx of visitors on a fragile eco-system - in particular  on the welfare of declining shorebirds such as Curlew and Dunlin.

After extensive behind-the-scenes negotiations, most of the points of contention seem to have been resolved, even if with some degree of nervousness.

At least from statutory consultees, there are not thought to be any continuing objections, paving the way for the NELC planning green light.

However, consent will come with many restrictions - for instance, seasonal-only occupancy of the caravans  and a (possibly unenforceable) 'no dogs' policy.

Assuming consent is granted, the redevelopment (which includes two hotels and 272 holiday cabins) will most likely be carried out in phases over several years, starting with the construction of a Lidl store and car park.

The former theme park is in Cleethorpes' Haverstoe ward.

It is not known what name will be chosen for the redeveloped site, but it seems unlikely that 'Pleasure Island' will be retained.